Keen said he understood their calculations and "would not quarrel with the math."

The House budget moved some dollars for Medicaid, the state- and federally-funded health insurance program for poor and disabled Ohioans, outside of the budget. Some money for the Medicaid expansion population could only be released every six months, only after receiving approval from a legislative budget panel.

Keen said that process creates uncertainty and could mean lower payments to nursing homes, hospitals and other service providers.

"From a budgeting and planning perspective, this amendment is wholly impractical," Keen said.